Interview with Elissa Fladell
Interview with Elissa Fladell
Inspiring interview with Elissa Fladell, one of our Flagship students joining Cohort one, on her recent trip to Israel and what it means to “Aunt Sally” something.
" We must do our part for Israel (money, speak to our elected officials, educate our friends) AND we must fight the raging antisemitism around the world. "
Meet Elissa Fladell, one of the Flagship Programs’ students accepted to our first cohort. Fladell is an avid cook and baker. Her happy place is in the kitchen with music blasting and several dishes in the works. Fladell has line cook experience and has owned her own online bakery; however, she has no formal training. When not in the kitchen, Fladell spends her time volunteering on behalf of Israel, the Jewish community and her local atlanta community. She considers Israel her home away from home and is counting the days until GCI begins. Recently Fladell joined the JNF mission and came to Israel to volunteer for a week. We wanted to hear a bit about her experiences in Israel and her thoughts.
What motivated you to come and volunteer in Israel during this time?
Even if I don’t live there, Israel is my home and that of all Jewish people. I work every day for the safety of Israel and Jews in the diaspora from my house in Atlanta. It was extremely important for me to get to Israel to see “her” and bear witness to the atrocities and to help out wherever I am able.
What did you walk away with, after volunteering and meeting people here?
I walked away with a heart full of (even more) pride, (even more) fear for our soldiers, especially the young men and women I met, and the realization that the diaspora Jews are fighting a war on two fronts. We must do our part for Israel (money, speak to our elected officials, educate our friends) AND we must fight the raging antisemitism around the world.
As one of the students accepted to the Galilee Culinary Institute's inaugural class, how do you think the program will contribute to the people and the region of the Galilee?
After visiting Israel with JNF, I have a much greater understanding of how GCI will affect the surrounding community. I know that the program will contribute to the growing community in the Galilee.
Our flagship program was due to start in May, but has been pushed off due to the war, what are you working in until you join our first cohort?
Besides working on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, my older daughter graduated from college last weekend and my younger daughter is leaving for Israel on Sunday. So, I am focused on my work and my children.
What’s a fun culinary fact about you?
I named my (online) bakery Aunt Sally’s after my mother’s favorite aunt. The way the story goes, is that Aunt Sally would always tweak recipes just enough to make them her own and my mother would call it “Aunt Sally’ing the recipe”. Until I realized recipes weren’t meant to be followed so closely, I thought this was quite a rebellion and still use that term in my home.